And I'll make it all right

 

Chili knew it would be this way with Axton. She knew where his heart would be these days and she accepted it. He was after all a new Dad so he should be with the baby and Em.

Although, she knew he was at a loss with his job. Such uncertainty. He'd had to clean warehouses in the evenings out of punishment where he worked during the ongoing investigation of the classroom incident.

She wished she could figure it out. And then Axton's coworker showed up at the coffee shop. She asked how he was doing. She'd heard he worked here at lunchtime in the kitchen.

"I think he was set up," Rosie said about Axton and the Child Care Center.

"Set up?" Chili thought that sounded crazy.

"It seems that way. This airman just showed up one day. He doesn't even have kids at the preschool," Rosie explained that she'd seen him in the hallway. She described him.

Immediately, Chili knew it was Parker. Chili felt as if she'd been hit in the gut. How could he? How could Parker put Axton's job in such jeopardy? Axton needed that job. It was his livelihood. Everyone appreciated him there, and it was good insurance for his young family too.

Chili was furious, but did her best to stay calm, Why did he have to be so evil?

"Thanks for telling me," Chili said. "Hopefully, Axton will be cleared soon." Chili wanted to be involved, but she didn't want to make matters worse, either. "At first, I thought it was going to be kind of like a vacation for him. I mean, with the baby and all." But it hadn't been easy for him to spend all evening organizing stuff he didn't know what kind of order it even needed to be in. 

"I know he's a good dad," Rosie assured her. "I just wish he wasn't having to share his time with Em's girlfriend," Rosie said she understood, but it couldn't be easy.

"I think he just wants to be there as a Dad because he never knew his own," this much Chili knew. She didn't want to be a part of the problem, but somehow she felt at fault because of Parker.